Neighborhood Holiday Progressive Dinner 2008

I spent a large portion of last week dreading throwing the dinner and dessert portion of our neighborhood's annual holiday progressive dinner. I can't shake this feeling I mentioned before that this holiday season just isn't doing it for me. I know it's my attitude and probably turning off CNN would help me a lot. But nonetheless this year I'm just not feeling the Christmas Spirit.

Now, last year I was absolutely thrilled to throw this party and spent quite a bit of time carefully planning things. I tried the recipes for my menu before the day of the party, I set up the tables and place settings a couple days before the event. We had custom napkins and stir sticks made and Logan even created a CD mix of Christmas music to hand out at the end of the evening.

This year, on Saturday morning our living room (that would become a dining room for 20) looked like this.

On Friday I did all the shopping for the party, nearly dying in line at the fabric store. No, no one tried to kill me. But the amount of time I waited to have my fabric cut and measured nearly killed me. I'm not at all exaggerating. I also braved Costco, without protective gear. I struggled, but I persevered.

We decided to make Beef Brisket, Potatoes You Leave In The Oven Too Long, and Whiskey Glazed Carrots. I started out using Pioneer Woman's recipe for the Beef Brisket, but then my friend, Chef Laura (not sarcasm, she really is a chef) told us to do it differently. So I don't even know how to tell you to cook this meat.

I started out with the marinade, had to discard it and wipe the meat off. Then I got overwhelmed and gave the entire task of cooking the meat over to Logan.

We substituted Cognac for the Whiskey in our carrots because someone drank all the Maker's. (Max.)

To make Potatoes You Leave In The Oven Too Long, chop your red skin potatoes into reasonably even chunks. Put them in a baking pan, add some olive oil and whatever seasonings you want. Then throw them in the oven until they're all crunchy and burnt. This recipe came from a time we, you know, left the potatoes in the oven too long.

I didn't want to spend a lot of money on the centerpieces for the tables because I don't like spending a lot of money in general. Plus I wanted to have a different look than the tables had last year.

I ended up standing in line at the fabric store for 32 straight hours to buy some clearance fabric. It wasn't long enough so I cut it into four strips and laid them down the middle of the table. I didn't finish the sides because they weren't fraying terribly and I didn't feel like it. The fabric was $5.

To hide the places where the strips of fabric met along the 18 feet of table, I used strips of wide ribbon to cover them. (Two 12 foot spools of ribbon for $4 a piece.) I pinned the ribbon to the white tablecloths to keep it in place.

I'm not really good at arranging flowers so I decided to use fruit for this year's centerpiece rather than go back to the easy fullness of the hydrangea like last year.

While at Costco, fighting for my life, I came across boxes of the most adorable little pears you've ever seen in your life. The perfect color and the perfect size. They make me want to have a baby with a pear because they are so cute. (Also delicious, which is good since we have A LOT of pears to eat since the party). I bought two boxes of the pears for $5 a piece, I probably could have gotten away without the second box, but I used them on a raised pedestal on a cabinet in the room. Hey, who are those cute kids in my Christmas Card box?

To set this table:

I spent just under $25.

I pulled this party together in one day of errands and one day of cooking and prep work. It turns out I like throwing parties (aside from the running of errands) so even though a lot of people would be stressed out about the process of creating a party. I am in my element I think, ready for a cocktail and a quickie two hours before the big event. We even had a fabulous dinner party to attend the night before, so I didn't even have that head start.

Now, that's not to say nothing went wrong. I decided to save money on rentals and found this plastic flatware at Costco that "Looks so real you won't believe it's plastic!" Until you, actually touch it and it floats out of your hand because it's so clearly not real flatware. We borrowed our friend's large collection of plates they bought for their wedding reception. But I forgot dessert plates, so that was a bit of a drag, sending one of our neighbors out to their house to get dessert plates.

But, none of that stuff really matters and if you get caught up in those details? Guess what, you hate throwing parties. Everything will work out. Save the stress for worrying about things like the failing auto industry...things you have absolutely no power over. That's what I prefer to do!

Everyone had fun even though the flatware was crappy and the dessert plates were missing.

Hopefully next year we'll still be here to do it again.

Comments

[Sarah]

Everything looks really wonderful, I envy your sense of style!

[Susanne]

I hate to be a bitch (but I am). Your neighbors are taking advantage of you. You did the main course and dessert last year. Some one else has to step it up. I don't care if you offered. Still incredibly inconsiderate on their part. You rule, free loading neighbors drool.

[melissaS]

Whoa, whoa easy Susanne.

We love hosting. I actually asked if we could because we're not sure we'll be living here next year so wanted to have a last chance.

No one's being awful.

[Heather]

Lovely, lovely! I had something else to say, but really I'm just reading blogs procrastinating on the homemade gift thing that sounded like a good idea. Wherever you are next year, your neighbors are damn lucky.

[Marinka]

Everything looks lovely and very grown up!

[HouseofJules]

I absolutely LOVE the look of the baby pears and the votives down the center of the table. So cute!
Jules
House of Jules

[Denise]

Just lovely. Very simple and natural. Wish I was there.

[p/f]

I really love the table runner, it is so pretty, what a great way to dress up the table. Waiting in line at the fabric store was definitely worth it.

Also, I really admire the way that you routinely throw parties for 20+ people without thinking about it. I love the 'idea' of having large groups of people hanging out at my house; but start to break out into hives in preparation of having just two or three people over for dinner.

[whoorl]

I soooooo want to attend one of your parties.

[kbreints]

Wow! Looks great! Love the riddon idea! I may use that!

[Alyce]

It looks lovely!

And I hear you on errand-running. Some days I love it (is it the smoking of the crack?), but most of the time I am dragging by errand #3 and begging to be put down. For me, it's a blood-sugar thing. Must. have. food. in order to not rip the head off of the lady who shoved her cart into my heel for the 3rd time.

[Cat]

Gorgeous table, thanks for all the tips! Not like I'm throwing a party this year, but still. I can dream a much better party now.

[Kristen]

There are 2 houses for sale in my neighborhood! Come live near me! (Can you move to Phoenix?) I LOVE the pear idea.

[Dave M]

I love the long, skinny table - very grown up, indeed. BTW, some of the best party hosting advice I ever heard was something like, "Just because you only have eight plates and six chairs is no reason you can't have twelve people over for dinner."

What were the other courses? Do tell!

[Jayne]

Would that have been a certain large chain fabric store over in the easterly direction? I found myself standing in line there endlessly for fabric to be cut too, after already having been rudely dismissed by the staff for stupidly asking the location of items in their store. That was the closest I've come to losing the holiday spirit this season. But at least I didn't feel compelled to hit someone over the head with a roll of gift wrap like this one year in Target...

[Asha {Parent Hacks}]

I want to go to a Summers party! Wahhhh! That's all.

[kat]

your table looks LOVELY! i love the candles and the pears. and together with the mantle! lovely!

[Shelly]

I am SO going to wait in line at the fabric store! Your wonderful idea with the fabric runner will help jazz up my upcoming Hanukkah dinner party. I've had such a difficult time finding anything festive and Hanukkah-ish. Thanks!

[Cricky]

That was a gorgeous table. I'm so stealing it.

[Deidre]

Goodness the table looks good! and those pears look so yummy.

You could make pear sauce (with some of the extras...)!

[Chelsea C.]

Beautiful tablescape!

[SAJ]

So pretty. Every year, I love this.